Virginia Submits Pre-Applications for More than $2 Billion of High Speed Rail Projects from Federal Recovery Funds

Press Release

Virginia Submits Pre-Applications for More than $2 Billion of High Speed Rail Projects from Federal Recovery Funds

- Proposals focus on Washington, DC to Petersburg line -

Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced that the Commonwealth has submitted pre-applications for more than $2 billion of high speed rail projects under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act's (ARRA) high speed rail program. The rail stimulus program will provide $8 billion in federal funds to support high speed and intercity passenger rail projects across the country. Virginia's applications focus on the I-95 corridor between Washington, DC and Petersburg. The projects will further the Commonwealth's commitment to commercial and passenger rail options, including recent infrastructure investments and public-private partnerships.

"Virginia has made significant investments in rail options to help rebalance our transportation network in the Commonwealth," Governor Kaine said. "As we continue to work towards high speed rail in Virginia, the availability of ARRA funds will help deliver more transportation choices and economic benefits to the public much more quickly than we would otherwise be able to achieve."

The Commonwealth has submitted pre-applications that reflect the highest priorities for passenger rail investment in Virginia's most congested travel corridors.

The I-95 rail corridor between Washington, DC and Petersburg is the top priority corridor for passenger rail improvements in Virginia based on population and employment densities, in addition to its strategic location connecting Virginia to Amtrak's Northeast Corridor and the Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor. Virginia has invested more than $197 million in this corridor to-date, and recently executed an agreement with Amtrak to initiate a new Northeast Corridor train between Richmond and Washington, DC.

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